Sports

Trindon Holliday makes it two games in a row with Broncos TD returns

Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Luke Kuechly catches up to the Broncos' Trindon Holliday after a 2-yard reception from Peyton Manning during the third quarter Sunday, but nobody caught the 5-foot-5 speedster on a 76-yard punt return. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

CHARLOTTE — After an afternoon when Trindon Holliday returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, the Broncos' new weapon declined to brag about his sprinter's speed. But he won't lie, either.

"After I break past the first wave (of the opponent's coverage unit), it's over with," he said.

Holliday became the sixth Broncos player to score multiple touchdowns on special teams in the same season, adding to his 105-yard kickoff return a week earlier at Cincinnati. It's doubtful anybody will catch the 5-foot-5, 170-pounder from behind. At Louisiana State, Holliday was an eight-time All-American in track. He claimed the 2009 NCAA title for the 100-meter dash with a time 10.0, which is world class.

A second-year pro, Holliday joined the Broncos on Oct. 11 after he was placed on waivers by Houston. The Texans had put linebacker Brian Cushing on injured reserve and needed to adjust their roster and use Holliday's roster spot.

"I think this is a perfect fit for me," Holliday said of the Broncos.

And that's not just as a returner. In the third quarter, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looked left and completed a 15-yard pass to Holliday — the first NFL reception of Holliday's young career.

Then Manning went back to Holliday on the next play. That completion went for only 2 yards, but it sent a message that Holliday is destined to become more than a sideshow on offense.

"That made me feel good," Holliday said of Manning looking for him on back-to-back plays. "I want to do everything I can to help the team. I don't want to be just a one-dimensional guy.

"I have great hands. I just haven't been able to prove it (as a wide receiver) in the NFL. You can't have bad hands and be a returner."

Holliday said he has not been told whether he will become a more featured part of future game plans on offense. But he is getting more reps in practice as a receiver.

"It's bits and pieces right now," Holliday said. "I'm just trying to build more and more each week and trying to get better."

Teammates would love to see him out there.

"Trindon can add (to the offense) what he adds on the returns — incredible speed, agility and quickness," tight end Jacob Tamme said. "It's always good to get the ball in his hands."

Returns for touchdowns tend to flip the momentum and almost always have a demoralizing, psychological effect on the opponent. The timing of Holliday's returns in the past two games couldn't have been much better.

Trindon Holliday flips the ball over the goal line after his punt return for a touchdown against Carolina in the second quarter Sunday. More photos. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

The Broncos were up just 10-3 against the Bengals when he brought back a kickoff 105 yards. This time, the score was tied 7-7 when Holliday put Denver in front with the 76-yard punt return on the first play of the second quarter.

"We were trying to set that up the whole game," Holliday said of Sunday's punt return. "(Carolina punter Brad Nortman) gave us one that I could return. I caught it and made a little jab to the left. Then I saw my teammates making blocks for me on the right side, and I just hit a hole."

As Holliday darted to the right sideline, Nortman appeared to have an angle on him. But Holliday zipped past him.

"I was not going to be tackled by the punter," Holliday said. "I'd never hear the end of it."

Roster juggling can be unavoidable. But what in the world did the Texans not see in Holliday?

"I don't know, man," he said. "No comment on that one. I'm just happy to be on this team."

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